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Here are my favorite events around the Christmas theme in Alsace and nearby Germany and Switzerland. They are ordered by date and alphabetically by towns and villages. Scroll down the page to find yours. Dates are still the ones for 2018 but as soon as I get the new ones for 2019 I will update the page. Usually the events are taking place at the same period every year …

Christmas market in Riquewihr, Alsace – Dawn over the upper part of main street with Dolder tower

The Christmas period in the upper Rhine valley (Alsace and nearby Germany and Switzerland) starts every year more or less one month before Christmas. A lot – a big lot – of Christmas events are organized all over the region: Christmas markets, concerts, story telling and nativity scenes. Some of them are daily and permanent and last for several weeks (see at the bottom of the page). I would recommend to visit them on weekdays, away from the crowd. Some others only happen at a specific date. Here are some of the events I like most. In order for every visitor to plan his holiday I classified them according to the calendar and dates of happening. All those events are happening every year more or less in the same order.

BASEL – Switzerland

Basel Christmas market.Every year Basel, a major Swiss city on the border between Switzerland, France and Germany, presents a beautiful and high quality Christmas market. Easily accessible by train (avoid the use of a car).

From 22 November to December 23, 2018. Every day 11:00 – 20:30

The Basel Christmas market takes place on the Barfüsserplatz in the heart of the old town and in front of the cathedral. In a warm and magical atmosphere, merchants and craftsmen from the region and throughout Switzerland offer their products and demonstrate their skills throughout some 130 stalls and wooden illuminated chalets. The Christmas market in Basel is the largest in Switzerland. Easy access by train from Colmar.

Christmas market in Colmar, Alsace

COLMAR

Friday Nov 23, 2018 to Saturday Dec 29, 2018

The city of Colmar holds the second largest Christmas market in France after Strasbourg. Opening festivities of Christmas in Colmar start on 23 of November 2018. In fact, in Colmar, there is not only one Christmas market! There are five Christmas markets with different historical contexts that await you in the old town center of this beautiful city of Colmar. Feel free to go there during the week and as early as the end of November. It will be less crowded and it will be more enjoyable. You will be able to see all things in detail without being jostled by the crowds that flock here on weekends.See my article about the Christmas markets of Colmar

Baking Christmas cookies as in the past. Alsatian Living Museum in Ungersheim.

ECOMUSEE d’ALSACE – Alsace Living Museum –

Every day from 01 December, 2018 to January 6, 2019 (10:30 to 18:30) – Closed on Monday

The Living Museum of Alsace is located in Ungersheim between Colmar and Mulhouse. It is a complete village built with historical houses rescued over years everywhere in Alsace. Secrets for an authentic Christmas is a collection of exhibitions, storytelling, guided tours, etc. that take place every day from November 24 to January 6. A must see not to be missed!

Christmas market in Eguisheim, Alsace

EGUISHEIM

Friday, Nov 30,9:00 to 20:00 –Sunday, Dec 23from 9:00 to 19:00 and from Dec 27 to Dec 30, from 9:00 to 19:00 and Saturday until 20:00.

Eguisheim is another beautiful medieval village on the Alsace wine route, a half-hour drive of Riquewihr. Beautiful Christmas market with a different theme each week followed after Christmas until Dec 31 by the market of the Magi.

FREIBURG im BREISGAU (Germany)

Located in the very heart of Freiburg’s beautiful old historical quarter, the Freiburg Christmas Market is held on the Rathausplatz, the Franziskanerstraße, the Unterlindenplatz and on the Kartoffelmarkt.

Gengenbach, Germany and the giant Advent Calendar

GENGENBACH (Germany) – The giant Advent Calendar

Gengenbach is a beautiful historical city on the German side of the Rhine valley with plenty of romantic old houses with wooden frameworks, very similar to the houses we have in Alsace actually. In 2016 from the 25th of November until the 23rd of December (a day before Christmas Eve), the magnificent 200 year old Town Hall facade comes to a new life.
The opening ceremony of a new window is happening every day exactly at 18.00 o’clock.
The opening times of Gengenbach Advent market: Monday to Friday from 15:00 – 20:00, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 – 20:00.See our report and pictures of Gengenbach.

From Saturday, November 11 to the end of December. Every day 14:00 – 18:00. Closed Dec 24-25.

Glass has been produced in Meisenthal since the early 18th century, and since the 19th century Christmas decorations from Meisenthal were famous. They say the Christmas baubles hanging in the Christmas firs were first invented and created there. It is possible to watch glassblowers in their activity of glassblowing, especially during the holiday season, when they make thousands of Christmas baubles in the old traditional and artisanal way. Take some home to decorate your own Christmas fir!See our report and pictures about Meisenthal glass factory and Christmas baubles.

A drive to Meisenthal is to combine with a visit to the Cristalleries Royales de Saint-Louis (nearby) and the beautiful Musée Lalique, 40 Rue du Hochberg, 67290 Wingen-sur-Moder. In December, end the day on your way back with a stop at the Christmas market of Strasbourg.

Take home your own original Christmas baubles from Meisenthal

MULHOUSE

A wonderful Alsatian Christmas market beautifully decorated in the heart of the historic center of Mulhouse. This Christmas market has an outstanding feature: the Christmas Fabric, a fabric created each year for the occasion and which refers to the rich industrial and artistic past of Mulhouse on weaving.

Obernai is another beautiful medieval city of Alsace. The thirty wooden chalets of the “Christmas Gastronomy in Alsace” Market invite you in an enchanting setting between scents of gingerbread and mulled wine scent to fill your baskets of local produce and crafts gifts.

The main Christmas market in Riquewihr, near the town hall, in the lower part of the village.

RIQUEWIHR

Nov 30 to Dec 24, 2018. From 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:00 to 19:30 on Saturday and Sunday. Inaugural Nov 30.

SELESTAT- historical craddle of the Christmas fir

Nov 30 to Dec 30, 2018 for the Christmas Market.
Several exhibitions can be seen up to Jan 6, 2019.

Beautiful Christmas events that deserve your visit. Selestat in Alsace is the craddle of the Christmas fir (first written mention dating back to the year 1521) and presents beautiful exhibitions about the Christmas tree and its history. Not to be missed. The Christmas Village (with the chalets) will be open from NOV 30 to DEC 30.
Every day from 10:00 to 19:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 20:00 and exceptional closing at 16:00 on DEC 24/12. Saint-Nicholas parade on DEC 6 afternoon. Some exhibitions last until JAN 6, 2019.See our dedicated page with pictures and practical hints and tips.

Selestat in Alsace, hometown of the Christmas tree deserves a visit in any season but especially during the Christmas period, from end of November to beginning of January.

STRASBOURG

From 23 November to 30 December 2018 : Christmas market every day from 10:00 to 20:00 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays). December 24: 10:00 to 18:00.

THANN

Thann is a little Alsatian city nested in a narrow valley near Mulhouse. It is famous for it incredible wine (on the Rangen hill) and for its beautiful church (Collégiale St-Thiébaut). Enter the magic of Christmas on the theme of White Christmas and discover the Christmas market around the Collegiate Church nestled in the heart of a decorated forest of firs. In the Middle Ages, during the Advent time before Christmas, holy tales and stories were played in front of churches. So it is in Thann on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

First weekend of Advent (Dec 1-2, 2018)

All permanent Christmas markets listed at the top of this page plus all events related to St Nicholas’s Day. As I was a child St Nicholas’s Day was a major event. It is still like that in Alsace. Do not miss the St Nicholas’s Parade in Sélestat (see below).

SELESTAT–Processionof Saint-Nicholas

December 6, 2018from 16:30

Procession of Saint-Nicholas and opening of the Christmas market. Spectacular night parade in the streets of downtown (from 16:30), speech by the saint patron of schoolchildren (18:00 – Victory Square) and distribution of sweets and hot chocolate to good children.

Saint Nicholas opens the Christmas market in Selestat, Alsace.[ Vacation rentals from the owner ][ CHARMING & LUXURY HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION on the ALSACE WINE ROUTE ]From the small studio to the large luxury apartment, the Remparts de Riquewihr is a collection of 14 charming holiday gites superbly located in one of the most beautiful villages of France. Jewel on the Alsace wine route Riquewihr will be your headquarters to discover all the Alsace, the Vosges and even nearby Germany and Switzerland.Click to visit our holiday apartments

Second weekend of Advent (Dec 08-09, 2018)

This second weekend of Advent, the choice will become even more difficult as there are so many beautiful events to attend. I am afraid you will need several years to get it all done!

BERGHEIM

Bergheim is another beautiful village on the wine route close to Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. Combining tradition and creativity, this Christmas market will delight you with its warm and authentic atmosphere in the heart of the walled city of Bergheim. Also do not miss the beautiful exhibition of Nativity Scenes.

BOUXWILLER (Bas-Rhin)

Dec 08 and 09, 2018. Saturday 11:00-20:00 and Sunday 11:00-19:00.

Bouxwiller is a pretty Alsatian village of the Kochersberg, a small region between Saverne and Haguenau, famous for its preserved colorful traditions and painted Alsatian pine furniture. Every year in mid-December during a single weekend, stands a large Christmas market with nearly 150 exhibitors. Many of them offer delicious local produce, wines and gastronomic specialties, but also crafts, Nativity scenes and other Christmas decorations manufactured in Alsace. There are always lots of people, mostly locals who like to meet here. An authentic Christmas market off the beaten track.

Bouxwiller Christmas market. Here some beautiful Nativity Scenes created locally are for sale at a very reasonable price.

Gutach Black Forest open air farm museum – White Christmas market in 2012, a very special atmosphere.

NEUF BRISACH

Dec 07-08-09, 2018. From 14:00 to 19:00 on Friday, 10:00 to 21:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 19:00 on Sunday.

Neuf-Brisach stronghold is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. They present live Christmas traditions at the time of Vauban, the famous architect who built the stronghold in the 17th Century. Exhibitors and extras in period costumes, old trades, tavern, boar on the spit, farm animals … back in time with the Christmas Market as it was in the years 1700!

ORSCHWILLER—Next event in December 2019

The «Authentique Village de Noël» (Authentic Christmas village) is an event that takes place every 2 years. Next time will be Dec 2019. Orschwiller is a small village on the Alsace wine route at the foot of Haut-Koenigsbourg. Family atmosphere of religious and popular tradition of the Nativity. Lively village, decorated and illuminated with passion by associations and residents. Enjoy an evening of lights and emotions. A beautiful moment indeed …

OTTMARSHEIM

Unique in France, the Christmas market of Ottmarsheim owes its originality and success to the fact that museums come to exhibit and sell the products of their shops in addition to high quality artists who are also invited. Entertainment, strolling, concerts, storytelling … And last but not least, part of the celebration, one of the most original and beautiful medieval churches in Alsace on site hosts concerts and storytelling. Snacks by village associations.

Third weekend of Advent (Dec 15-16, 2018)

See also the permanent markets: Strasbourg, Riquewihr, Colmar, Mulhouse or Altkirch as well as the Christmas markets held on weekends only like Kaysersberg.

GRENDELBRUCH

Dec 15-16 and Dec 22-23, 2018

Christmas with the woodcutters in a lonely village in the mountain. Dec 15-16, 2018. Concert on Sunday at 17:00. Christmas market with a beautiful nativity scene in the church of the village. Beautiful and mysterious. Off the beaten path. I love it. Combine this with a visit to the little city and Christmas market of Rosheim in the same area or Obernai.

WISSEMBOURG

A spectacular show ends the Night Parade of Hans Trapp and Christkindel in Wissembourg, Alsace.

Wissembourg is just at the north end of Alsace. From Riquewihr or La Vancelle, it takes a good hour and a half drive (highway). The Christmas market in Wissembourg is held every weekend from end of November. But if you are looking for a different event, then spend the afternoon of December 20 with a trip to Wissembourg. You will participate in the torchlight procession around Christkindel and Hans Trapp (two typical Alsatian tale characters of the Christmas time) and discover this great magical event taking place in Wissembourg only.

Christmas markets happening on several weekends in December

Kaysersberg, a weekend’s evening in December

KAYSERSBERG

The medieval town of Kaysersberg, protected by the shadow of the ruins of its castle, invites you to an enchanting ride in the heart of a picturesque and authentic 17th century city … A wonderful moment guaranteed for young and old!

Church of Mount Sainte Odile overlooking the plain of Alsace in the Winter. Fantastic view reaching as far as the Black Forest.

Fantastic view on the plain of Alsace and as far as the Black Forest. Take some time to visit the monastery, one of the most famous shrines in Alsace. When night has come drive back to the valley and make a stop at Rosheim and Obernai to visit their Christmas markets.

Christmas lights and market in the romanesque city of Rosheim, Alsace.Every weekend in December.

ROSHEIM

Friday 07 December to Sunday 23 Dec 2018, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From 16:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays and 14:00-19:00 on Sundays.

Rosheim is a pretty little medieval city near Obernai and the Mount St Odile monastry. Rosheim has a unique old medieval church where you will see a great Nativity scene. Beautiful Christmas light shows after sunset.

TURCKHEIM

Turckheim celebrates Christmas every year, with the Christmas ceremonial of the Advent calendar … Not to mention his famous night watchman in his traditional costume. You are invited to go with him in his nocturnal round. He will tell the story of the city of Turckheim while punctuating the route of anecdotes and Alsatian songs. The night watchman’s round starts at 22:00 in front of the city hall.

Stay in a beautiful accommodation with a festive Christmas atmosphere

To make your visit in Alsace a memorable one, stay at les RempartsRiquewihr– in one of our new holiday apartments, set in a historic winery facing the vineyards of Riquewihr.